Combustion-deposit sampling device



Get. 16, 1956 P. s. FAY ET AL 2,766,615

COMBUSTION-DEPOSIT SAMPLING DEVICE.

Filed Aug. 51, 1953 I. 5 ll PHIL [P d 24?, P025 57" c. 77129 5 P14 94mm;X? DECK/EB IN VEN TORS.

COMBUSTION-DEPOSIT SAMPLING DEVICE Philip S. Fay, Robert C. Tupa, andRaymond R. Decker, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to The Standard Oil Com-.pany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 31,1953, Serial No. 377,442

8 Claims. (Cl. 73-116) Much variation in the physical and chemicalcharacter of deposits formed in the combustion chambers of cyl inders ofinternal combustion engines is possible and is common. Differences infuels, differences in operating conditions, differences in lubricants,and differences from materials added to fuels are factors for which anaccu rate checking of results has not been possible. And it has beenmuch desired to be able to ascertain the nature of combustion depositsas formed in engine equilibrium, and avoiding exposure of samplingsurfaces during unstable conditions of engine startup. From an accurateascertainment of results, corrections and improvements could be greatlyfacilitated. By the present invention, it now becomes possible tocollect samples of combustion deposits under desired conditions, andcomparisons at desired time intervals can likewise easily be had, anddeposits so obtained from combustion chambers can be subjected to minuteexamination, physically and chemically to the extent desired. Otherobjects and advantages will appear from the following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed draW ing setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but afew of the various Ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is an axial sectional view, enlarged, of equipment in accordancewith the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view.

For particular convenience, the device is of dimension corresponding toa spark plug but isreceived in its own opening provided in addition tothe normal spark plug opening, and is used when the engine cylinder isfiring. Thus, the body 2 having a screw threaded end 3, provides ahex-head 4 for application of a wrench as cus tomary with spark plugs.Centrally of the body a shaft 5 is arranged, and a plurality oflongitudinal bores are spaced laterally of said shaft. Desirably, thesebores present two diameters of which the smaller is the inner end, andthey thereby provide an intermediate shoulder 7. In each bore is aplunger which has a spaced opposed shoulder 8. Preferably, the plungeris in two parts 9, 10, one providing a reduced stem 11 spaced from theother part whereby an intermediate coil spring 12 is accommodate, andthis normally tends to urge the plunger out, but its range of movementis limited by suitable means. Thus, to the inner end of the shaft 5 issecured a rotary plate 14 which has a perforation 15 dimensioned toadmit the end 16 of a said plunger when in proper position. By therotary or oscillably adjustable character of the plate 14, it is seenthat the opening 15 can be turned into position to admit plungers asdesired, and it is noticed that the fiat end 16 of such plunger whenexposed is flush with the surrounding surtion and thereby the rotaryplate 14 can freely turn to position the opening 15 to successivelyadmit the plungens. Suitable means are provided for controlling exposureof a desired plunger; and such may be for instance an indexing lever 18secured to the end of the shaft 5 as by a set-screw 19, and a nut 20 ifdesired. Thus, by turning the lever the desired plungers are admitted tothe opening 15.

The operation of sampling is as follows: With an equipment of aplurality of plungers thus in position, with the inner end of the devicein the engine cylinder, and the engine started and allowed adequatewarm-up to stabilization, the lever 18 is moved to release the first oneof the plunge-rs into deposit-receiving position for a determined time,for example, l030 minutes, and then after an interval, by furtherturning the lever the second plunger is released to collect deposit onits inner end, a similar collecting time being allowed. And after aninterval as desired the third plunger is released for collecting. Theengine is stopped and the sampler is removed and subjected tomicroscopic and chemical examinations as desired in any given case. Thesample are, of course, accumulative; thus, for example, one collectingplunger contains a 30 minute sample, the next contains a 20 minutesample of the same period, and the third a 10 minute sample likewise ofthe same period. In so. e instances, merely one collection-sample isdesired, and for this a one plunger device is suitable, and then theengine may be stopped and the sample be removed and the deposit beexamined as mentioned.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchbe employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as ourinvention 1,

1. A sampler for deposits forming in internal com.- bustion engines,comprising a body insertable in an opening provided therefor in such anengine, a rotary shaft extending axially through said body, a sealingring on said shaft, a plurality of longitudinal bores in the body spacedlaterally of the shaft and having operatively inner end. portions ofreduced diameter, a plunger in each bore comprising inner and outersections both fitted snugly but slidably in the enlarged outer endportion of the bore, the inner plunger sections having extensions whichproject through the reduced inner end portions of the bores and beyondthe inner end of the body when fully inserted, coil springs between theseveral such plunger sections, cover means obstructing the outer ends ofthe bores, a plate overlying the inner end of the body and obstructingthe plunger bore openings at such end, said plate being secured to therotary shaft and having an opening into which all the plunger extensionsmay pr0- ject for exposure within the engine upon predetermined rotationof the plate, and an indexing lever secured to the outer end of theshaft for selectively correlating the plungers and the plate opening.

2. A sampler for deposits forming in internal combustion engines,comp-rising a body insertable in an opening provided therefor in such anengine, a rotary shaft extending axially through said body, a sealingring on said shaft, a plurality of bores in the body spaced laterally ofthe shaft, a plunger in each such bore comprisilug outer and innersections and a coil spring there- F'atented Oct. 16, 1956* between,cover means obstructing the outer ends of the bores, a plate overlyingthe inner end of the body and obstructing the plunger bore openings atsuch end, the plungers being held in compressed condition between theplate and the cover means, said plate having an opening into which allthe plungers may enter upon predetermined rotation of the plate, theplate being secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, stop means forlimiting the projection of the plunger-s so that the ends thereof areflush with the exposed plate surface when extended, and an indexinglever secured to the outer end of the shaft for selectively correlatingthe plungers and the plate opening.

3. A sampler for deposits in internal combustion engines, comprising abody insertable in an opening provided therefor ina combustion chamberof such an engine, a plurality of longitudinal bores in the body whichopen at the inner end of the same, a collecting element within each suchbore, means for moving said elements individually within the body topositions in which they project from within the bores beyond the innerend of the body, thereby to be exposed Within the combustion chamber fordeposit collection, a rotary plate overlying the inner end of the bodyand normally obstructing the bore openings at such end, a shaftconnected to said plate and extending through the body, said platehaving an opening into which all the collecting elements may enter uponpredetermined rotation of the plate, and an indexing lever secured tothe outer end of the shaft for selectively correlating the bores and theplate opening.

4. A sampler for deposits in internal combustion engines, comprising abody having size and screw-threads to fit in a receiving openingprovided therefor in an internal combustion engine, a shaft axial insaid body, a longitudinal bore spaced laterally of said shaft, a plungertherein, means urging the plunger inwardly, a rotary plate carried bythe inner end of said central shaft having an opening permitting theplunger to enter to present its end flush with the plate surface in theengine combustion chamber, and an indexing lever secured to the outerend of said central shaft to control the plunger position.

5. In a sampler for deposits in internal combustion engines, a bodyinsertable in an opening .in an engine combustion chamber, a shaft axialin said body, a plurality of longitudinal bores laterally of said shaft,spring-urged plungers in said bores, a rotary plate carried by the innerend of said shaft normally blocking said plungers but having an openingpermitting all plungers to enter for each to expose its end to theengine combustion chamber, and means on the outer end of said axialshaft to rotate the shaft and rotary plate, thereby exposing the plungerends.

6. In a sampler for deposits in internal combustion engines, a bodyinsertable in an opening in an engine combustion chamber, a rotary shaftin said body, a 1ongitudinal bore laterally of said shaft, a plunger insaid bore, a rotary plate carried by the inner end of said shaftnormally blocking the plunger but having an opening registrable topermit the plunger to enter to present its end flush with the platesurface in the engine combustion chamber, and means urging the plungeragainst said plate.

7. A sampler for deposits in internal combustion engines, comprising abody insertable in an opening provided therefor in a combustion chamberof such an engine, said body being provided with a passageway which hasan open end at the inner end portion of the body, a collecting elementcarried by the body in such passageway, motion-imparting means carriedby the body and having a connection with said element for moving thelatter along the passageway to a position in which it projects from suchopen end of the same, thereby to expose the element in the combustionchamber for deposit collection, shield means mounted at the inner endportion of the body movable between positions respectively blocking andexposing such end of the passageway, and actuator means connected tosaid shield means for controlling such positioning thereof, saidactuator means exten-ding through the body to the outer end portion ofthe same for actuation of the shield means externally of a combustionchamber within which the body may be inserted.

8. A sampler for deposits in internal combustion engines, comprising abody insertable in an opening provided therefor in a combustion chamberof such an engine, said body being provided with plural passagewayshaving open ends at the inner end portion of the body, a collectingelement in each such passageway, motionimparting means carried by thebody and connected to such elements for moving the latter along theirrespective passageways to positions in which they project from such openends of the same, thereby to expose the elements in the combustionchamber for deposit collection, shield means mounted at the inner endportion of the body normally blocking such ends of all the passageways,said shield means being movable to expose the passageway endsprogressively until all are in exposed condition, and

actuator means for thus moving the shield means, the

actuator means extending through the body to the outer end portion ofthe same for manipulation externally of a combustion chamber withinwhich the body may be inserted.

References Cited in the file of this patent 2,589,712 Langsenkamp et a1Mar. 18, 1952

